Reviews:

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical Miss Saigon opened on Broadway last week at the Broadway Theatre. Critics were sharply divided about the revival, as some were swept away by the passionate story and high production values – Variety: “The upscale revival should bring a tear to old-timers with romantic memories of the original schmaltzy score, while titillating newbies who were toddlers in the early ’90s. The production values alone are a jaw-dropper.” Other critics however found the musical too corny and the production overdone: Time Out NY: “…it’s less a song-and-dance affair in any recognizable sense than it is an ’80s summer movie, weighed down with ridiculous special F/X. Miss Saigon is ultimately stranded between extremes of cynicism and idealism.” Read more review excerpts and purchase discount tickets.

Sweat, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, opened at Studio 54 Sunday night to Broadway critics. Reviews were mixed – many were struck by the timeliness of the well-researched story – Entertainment Weekly: “Compelling…a fascinating study of class and opportunity, or lack thereof. [The play] features a truly remarkable ensemble and it’s a struggle to take your eyes off any one of its layered characters.” But some critics felt the important issues were muddied by the less compelling staging and performances – NY Daily News: “The play grabs you with its ripped-from-the-headlines social and political resonance. It also loses its grip due to predictability and a miscalibrated staging…performances frequently don’t ring true.” Read more review excerpts and purchase discount tickets.

News and Notes:

The Color Purple Performance Receives Daytime Emmy Nomination

The Today Show performance from the cast of The Color Purple is up for a 2017 Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award in the Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program category. In the nominated performance, Tony winner Cynthia Erivo led the cast in the title number. The category was added for the 2016 Daytime Emmy Awards; this marks the first time a performance from a Broadway musical is among the nominees. Also up for the award are Pentatonix on Rachael Ray, Michael Bublé on LIVE with Kelly, and both Charles Bradley and St. Paul and the Broken Bones on CBS This Morning Saturday. Watch the nominated performance here. More details here.

NY Times Names New Theater Critic

Jesse Green, who is currently the theatre critic for New York Magazine, will join Ben Brantley as a co-chief theatre critic for The New York Times in May. Green will succeed Charles Isherwood, who had been the second-string critic of the Times since 2004. Isherwood was let go from the position earlier this year. More details here.

Broadway-Bound Mean Girls Musical Gets Premiere Date

Washington, D.C.’s The National Theatre has announced its 2017-18 season, which will feature the world premiere of the Broadway-bound new musical Mean Girls, with a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey based on her screenplay for the Paramount Pictures film. The new musical will run October 31-December 3. Mean Girls has a book by Fey, music by Fey’s husband, three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond (30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde). Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten!) will direct and choreograph. More details here.